Our Team

Donna is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with a strong interest in the assessment of dementia and other neurological conditions, as well as the design of interventions to assist.  As part of her detailed assessment of individuals' cognitive or "thinking" skills, she adopts a strengths-based approach to developing strategies to assist, capitalising on areas where the person remains to be functioning well.

She completed her PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland in 2007 and has more than 20 years' experience in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology. She concurrently holds a senior Neuropsychology position at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital (RBWH), where she has been employed since 2004. As part of her role there, she has provided neuropsychological services to the RBWH Memory Clinic and Neurology Department over many years. She has also worked across a range of private and other public settings, including both the Neurosciences Department and the Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.

Donna is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and holds endorsements in Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She is also a member of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group and the Young Onset Dementia Special Interest Group. She holds the position of Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Queensland and has been involved for many years in the training of postgraduate Neuropsychology students.

As a result of her experience, Donna has an in-depth knowledge of the cognitive presentation of a wide range of dementias and neurological conditions. She is highly committed to the delivery of evidence-based practice and is known for her calm and approachable manner.

Harriet is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with a particular interest in supporting the diagnosis and management of dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. She also enjoys providing neuropsychological assessments and supports for patients presenting with neurological conditions more broadly, including multiple sclerosis, stroke, and epilepsy. Additionally, Harriet has a strong interest in supporting patients and their families to understand the recovery from acquired brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, stroke and other cerebrovascular events, brain tumours, and hypoxic-encephalopathy injuries. Harriet values collaborative partnership with patients and their families/ carers and works with patients to assist them in understanding and supporting their cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning to foster independence.

She completed a Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland in 2012. Alongside her private practice work, she also holds a senior Neuropsychology position at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital (RBWH) where she provides neuropsychological assessments and guidance within the Neurosciences Department. She has also provided diagnostic neuropsychological assessments through the RBWH Memory Clinic. Prior to this, she held a senior Neuropsychology role for 8 years at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in the Brain Injury and Rehabilitation Unit, the Queensland state-wide tertiary service for adult brain injury rehabilitation.

Harriet is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and holds endorsements in both Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), as well as a Fellow of both the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists and College of Clinical Psychologists. She is also a member of the APS Rehabilitation Psychology Interest Group. She is an AHPRA Board Approved Supervisor and enjoys providing guidance and supervision for training neuropsychologists.

Leander is a Clinical Neuropsychologist who has been assessing adults and older adults for more than 10 years both in private practice, as well as hospital contexts. Her experience spans dementia diagnosis, intellectual impairment, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, as well as cognitive functioning after experiencing stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumour, and other such neurological conditions. She also has experience working with people living with dementia and their families to assist them as they embark on that journey.

Working within a strengths-based framework, Leander focuses on enabling & encouraging functioning at as high a level as possible in the individual's current context, therefore building on the individual's sense of self-efficacy and well-being. She achieves this through using a broad range of assessment measures aimed at identifying both areas of challenge, as well as strength. Her work in the reablement space at a national level underpins this area of her work.

Leander completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology - First Class Honours) at the University of Southern Queensland, followed by a Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology at The University of Queensland. Her research thesis for the DPsych was focused on working with people living with dementia, exploring ways of scaffolding changes in cognitive abilities. Leander subsequently completed a PhD, her thesis this time focused on wisdom in older adults.

Leander is registered with AHPRA, holding endorsement in both Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and a committee member of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group. She also holds fellow membership of both the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Her work also encompasses training the next generation of psychologists, being a board-approved supervisor with AHPRA.

Dr Madeline Farmer is a Clinical Psychologist, with a special interest in treating older adults and addressing the psychological issues that can accompany cognitive decline in old age. She is passionate about providing care to families and carers of older adults. Madeline believes in the importance of treating mental health issues in these areas, as it can substantially improve quality of life and one's adjustment to the changes in old age. She has completed a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Geropsychology at the University of Queensland, and has worked in clinical practice for the past 7 years. She is registered with AHPRA and is endorsed as a Clinical Psychologist.

Melanie graduated her Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours in 2010 from James Cook University in Townsville. She has worked in the community, hospital and Aged Care sectors in Australia and the UK. She has undertaken and presented research locally and internationally and in 2021 was published for her work in Lymphology - limb swelling in the heat and humidity following cancer intervention.

Melanie is passionate about assisting her clients to participate in their community, and to empower their connections and supports. Melanie utilises music, games, sport, technology, memory prompts and story telling to engage clients in movement and physical activity. She has a special interest in Aquatic Physiotherapy. Melanie is able to provide pain management, functional assessment and gait analysis, falls prevention strategies, exercise and equipment recommendations. Melanie is available for appointments in the Your Brain in Mind Clinic or in your own home, workplace or community. Her dachshund Rammi is a keen Therapy Dog.

Melanie also has an interest in accessible travel and has assisted clients in such things as sourcing suitable accommodation, activities and carers.

• Registered with AHPRA
• Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Gerontology National Group
• Melanie is currently completing her Level 1 in Gerontology Physiotherapy through the Australian Physiotherapy Association.